Hi fellow WH3081'ers,
We too have had similar experiences to others in setting up a fully working WH3081. It's been a mission and I am only glad our old 1081 hadn't actually died. We have been able to deal with all the problems and do some parallel running in our own time.
Signatrol (our supplier) have been very responsive and we've always had a person to talk to, who has helped, guided and provided replacement parts at regular intervals, which has been good.
Out of the box, no wind readings, just dashes on console. Cue replacement anenometer. Still no wind readings, so replacement wind direction vane. We then had wind readings but no solar readings. We then lost sensor contact with the transmitter outside, most of the time. Endless resets would bring it back but not for long. And the console is only 10m or so from the transmitter. Replacement transmitter and batteries received, installed and finally up and running with all readings.
After some checking of readings against our existing station, we nervously decided to connect to our weather PC and run through Cumulus. Every time I connected the console to the PC it lost sensor contact. Which came back every time I disconnected. Tried other USB cables and other laptops. Pretty much the same problem give or take.
Signatrol suggested that the console could almost be too close to the transmitter now and/or that the console was being grounded, so proposed a USB isolator. This is beyond my knowledge and expertise so I was considering seeking views here, but first decided to move the weather laptop back to its usual location, tucked away and further from the transmitter. Magically sensor contact reinstated and it has worked like clockwork so far (fingers all crossed, wood being touched). The only factor which changed is that in its usual position our weather laptop is plugged into a power smoother and UPS and it worked once the laptop was connected to the power smoother. Perhaps this handles the wonders of French electrics. As I know nothing on this topic,
any views on whether this could have resolved the problem or is it coincidence??
So now I can start the more exciting job of adding some of the solar data to our website and worrying about calibrating solar readings. I know it won't be the most accurate data, but it was £99 and we can't justify a Davis at the moment.
We are interested in those who are managing to run a WH3081 and whether you are off setting the solar readings at all. As a starter for ten, I have applied a threshold of 79 w/m2 on determining whether it is sunny or not and we will tweak accordingly. Obligingly we have had a wonderfully sunny day here so far. We will leave the % adjustment against max theoretical solar radiation at 75 and see what the sunny threshold does.
Any advice on settings from those in N Europe who understand more than me? Lux, w/m2 and theoretical max solar radiation are also all witchcraft to me
So in my experience, the WH3081 has a way to go in reaching even FO's usual levels of quality control. Some people seem to have set one up without problems, but it's a lottery. I can see that for many, diagnosing and repairing is a technical challenge you are enjoying, but if you are not up for this, you may have to be prepared for some to-ing and fro-ing with your supplier. Very frustrating if your old unit has packed up.
Hopefully we are through the worst. I can't imagine where Signatrol have made any profit from us, but their stance was they were determined to get us up and running. I now await the next benchmark - will my unit mysteriously die after a number of months like others.....watch this space!
Login 
Register
Enhancement requests
Search
